6. St. Paul's Designed by the same architect who did the San Jacinto Monument, groundbreaking for this beauty took place only a few months before the 1929 market crash.

"Funds were often so tight that if any other buyer could have been found for the massive, elegant structure, the mortgage holder might have foreclosed," the church says.

5. Chapel of St. Basil A modern edifice on the campus of Montrose's University of St. Thomas, this was designed by the renowned Philip Johnson.

His description, according to the school: "The building consists of three basic geometric shapes: a cube for the body of the church, a sphere for the dome and a granite plane connecting these shapes, by intersecting both the dome and the cube."

4. St. Anne's This Catholic church is a mainstay of Montrose. The architecture is intended to evoke the Spanish missions on the southwest.

3. First Methodist A 1910 building that offers an intriguing contrast to the modern skyscrapers nearby. Plus you can hear the bells from the Houston Press building.

2. Immaculate Conception An East End institution, Immaculate Conception also evokes the missions of early Texas.

1. Blessed Sacrament A landmark of the Second Ward, in a classic style that resonates with a feeling of solidity and sanctuary.